GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For the first time since restrictions were lifted in June, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is hosting an official COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday morning as omicron cases surge in the U.S.
Related: Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of US COVID-19 cases
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Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel will provide an update regarding COVID-19 and the continued efforts to slow the spread of the virus as the Omicron variant emerges as a dominant strain ahead of the holidays.
UPDATE: 11 takeaways from Whitmer’s first COVID briefing since June: Mandates, omicron, ‘critical point’
This stream has ended. Whitmer and Hertel will be joined by:
- Dr. Shelley Schmidt, Pulmonary Disease - Spectrum Health
- Dr. Daliya Khuon, Pediatric Infectious Disease - Helen Devos Childrens
- Dr. Lillian Cummings-Pulliams, School Psychologist – Wyoming Public Schools
- Alita Kelly, Small Business Owner – Southeast Market
- Pastor Jerry Bishop, Senior Pastor of Life Quest Center
In Michigan, new cases have slowed in the last two weeks, but remain near record-high levels.
Michigan COVID: Here’s what to know Dec. 21, 2021
The state’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 5,481 on Monday. The 7-day death average was 100 on Monday. The state’s fatality rate is 1.8%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 209,500 on Monday after reporting a record 55,543 recoveries.
Michigan has reported more than 10.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered as of Friday, with 67.9% of 16+ residents having received at least one dose, while 62.4% of 16+ residents are considered fully vaccinated.
Across Michigan’s entire population, 62.6% have received at last one COVID vaccine dose.
Related: ‘What we’re seeing is horrific’: Henry Ford Health workers share experiences as COVID surges